Ducks make only tweaks

While their two biggest competitors in the NHL's Pacific Division, the Dallas Stars and San JoseSharks, made huge acquisitions before Tuesday's NHL trade deadline, the Ducks made only two minor moves.

The first-place Stars, who take a four-point lead over the Ducks into a Tuesday night road game against the St. Louis Blues, made the biggest move of the day by landing center Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards, winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, is a top-notch, two-way performer and figures to help Dallas immensely.

Richards didn't come cheaply, however, costing the Stars highly regarded goaltender Mike Smith and forwards Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen. Richards won't be cheap over the next three seasons, either, with a contract that will pay him $7.8 million annually.

Defenseman Brian Campbell, San Jose's big-ticket acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres, stands to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Sharks will undoubtedly attempt to sign Campbell to a long-term contract before then, but the move is somewhat risky because San Jose surrendered a talented young winger in Steve Bernier and a first-round pick in this year's entry draft.

In any event, the Stars and Sharks certainly succeeded in upping the ante, in regard to both the chase for the Pacific Division title and the Western Conference playoff picture. Ducks general manager Brian Burke acknowledged as much Tuesday, but reiterated his belief in his team as currently constituted.

While the Ducks added depth in goal and on defense by obtaining Jean-Sebastien Aubin from the Kings and Marc-Andre Bergeron from the New York Islanders, respectively, it should not be forgotten that the Ducks had already made two huge roster additions this season – namely defenseman Scott Niedermayer and right wing Teemu Selanne.

Dallas might well hang on to win the division, but until the Stars prove they can win a playoff round, something they haven't done in any of the past three NHL seasons, they will be more pretenders than contenders. Similarly, San Jose must shake its reputation as a notorious playoff underachiever, and it is highly questionable whether the addition of Campbell will be enough to offset what appear to be chemistry problems in the Sharks locker room.

Dallas and San Jose both got better on Tuesday, but the Ducks and Detroit Red Wings, whose only Tuesday move was to pick up defenseman Brad Stuart from the Kings, remain the co-favorites in the West.

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